Alabama Warriors semi-pro football team faces South Alabama Seminoles in Saturday night game

The Alabama Warriors play the South Alabama Seminoles at 7 p.m. Saturday in Montgomery. (Photo courtesy of Lee Ellison.)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -The Alabama Warriors semi-pro football team travels from Morris to Montgomery for a 7 p.m. matchup this evening against the South Alabama Seminoles.

According to head coach Lee Ellison, the Warriors are trying to build tonight on an already promising season. The Warriors, a team that plays as part of the Xtreme South Football League (XSFL) is currently 3-1 with its only loss of the season coming against last year's defending XSFL champion Prichard Falcons.

"We would currently be the number two seed going into the playoffs right now, and I feel like we're building on the great season we had last year," Ellison said. "Last year we went undefeated until the championship game against the Falcons, and they are our only loss this year too."

Ellison looks for the Seminoles to give his team a tough game, despite the team's 0-3 start this year. "They've been in the league for six years and they have a pretty good team, and they've made the playoffs in previous years," he said. "They've just had a rough start, but you never know when they might turn it around."

Ellison said that the Warriors benefit from a core group of quality, returning players and some "star" players who have excelled so far this year.

He pointed specifically to Rob Taylor, an Addison High School standout who starts at both strong linebacker and tailback. "He has six touchdowns already this season, and is also our leading tackler," Ellison said. "He's really fast, and one of the few players who can play both sides of the ball."

Players on the Warriors roster are area high school graduates, but also come from schools such as Miles College, Alabama A&M and the University of Alabama. Playing in the semi-pro league gives the players another opportunity to get noticed and perhaps move on to the next level.

"Our players are spread out from all over, from Jefferson County, Blount County, Walker County," Ellison said. "We've got some great ball players and they aren't all necessarily from Division I teams. It shows that there are talented guys who need this chance."

The game kicks off tonight at Montgomery's True Divine Football Complex. Updates can be found on the Warriors Facebook page.